The Rogue

XXXXIII

*Faye*

My tongue skimmed my chapped lips anxiously. Rian's colossal body of fur was still heaving in deep breaths beneath me from traveling across the forest, fleeing from the police like two bandits. A part of me knew it had to be my dad. I didn't know how they would've figured out where I was, except maybe through the phone call, but I felt sick about it.

Shaking my head, I put that matter aside. There were more pressing things at hand to concern myself with. Like, for example, how we were about to waltz back into Whitewater village and take back Rian's Alphahood.

I could see the back of some cottages from where we stood, hidden in the trees. For some reason, there was a sense of relief here. My home in Tidy Heights had been disowned by my heart, so this was now the closest thing I had. Funny thing was that it didn't feel like home before when I was here; it was because I was now here with him.

Rian whined as I slid off his back. I took his soft face into my hands and peered into his ocean-deep eyes. He whined again.

"There are some things I need to tell you," I said.

That didn't make him very happy. Uttering a low growl, he nudged me with his muzzle. A sigh rolled through my body while I patted the space between his ears.

"So," I began, "apparently your dad has become a real jerk. He was, um, being rough with your mom. From what—"

His body vibrated with another growl, this one filled with menace. I bit my lip. This would be hard to explain to him.

"Titus and Sarah hate his guts, I'm pretty sure, and I got the feeling the pack may have changed how they feel about him," I continued. "We have to be smart about how we do this though, Rian. They might still feel allegiance to him, even if he is a horrible person."

We stared at each other for a second. I cleared my throat and looked down at my feet.

"You know," I told him, "we can strategize better if you're human. I can't read your mind."

After a moment, he stepped back and shifted into the side of himself that I could better relate. He started pacing, naked, and I couldn't lift my gaze. Nudity still bothered me, oddly enough.

"We're outnumbered," he remarked, "and I can't count on the pack to do anything in my favor. I can't think of anything except...except killing him myself."

My breath caught, drawing his attention. "You think you could do that? Kill your own father?"

"He has never been a father to me."

I was silenced by that. His position was one I could never handle. My mouth fell into a frown as I longed to pull him into my arms. The only reason I denied us both the comfort was because I knew he didn't want it. Not right now. Right now, he needed to be clear-headed, and my sentimentalism would only distract him.

"Well," I reasoned, swallowing down my emotions, "you can't just storm the village. We need a little strategy."

"We need a diversion or something. Even then, I can't be sure he'll be in the Alpha House or anywhere, really. I don't know his routine."

"Maybe I can streak naked through the street. That would draw lots of attention." I snickered before realizing something. "Oh, wait. You people see each other naked all the time. Never mind."

Rian didn't seem to find me very amusing. The right side of his mouth pulled back in a half-snarl. "No one is seeing you naked."

"I was kidding," I murmured, rubbing my arm self-consciously. "You have any ideas?"

"Not yet, but I don't want you getting involved in this, Faye. If my father has lost it, he is dangerous. I don't trust him not to hurt you."

"Well, we're only a two-man group at this point. If you need a diversion, it has to be me."

Hissing, he began pacing again. His lips were moving rapidly, but I couldn't make out his words. At this point, he was only distracting me, so I plopped down on the ground beside a prickly bush and tried to brainstorm.

We thought in silence for a long time. I kept trying to come up with something that would draw attention but that wasn't too destructive. Rian probably wouldn't like the idea of blowing anything up, and that seemed to be what my brain kept going back to. Fire just always seemed to draw a crowd.

Fire. I gasped and hurried to my feet. Rian was so deep in his head he didn't notice me, so I stepped in his path of pacing and latched my hands onto his shoulders. They still felt too bony for my liking.

"I have an idea," I squalled excitedly.

"You better not say anything remotely about being naked. Unless you're talking about right now, us alone—"

"No!" I rolled my eyes. "A fire. We should start a forest fire. It will make everyone stop what they're doing to try to put it out. It would be a great diversion."

His eyes narrowed. "You want me to burn down my own home?"

"Well..." Basically, yes. "Have you thought of something better?"

He pursed his lips and looked behind me. Only the sound of our breathing could be heard. I folded my arms across my chest and waited for him to speak some marvelous revelation. He was supposed to be the big strategist between us, after all.

"Alright," he finally muttered. "We keep the fire near the river, though. It hasn't been the wettest of seasons, and I do not want to see my forest go up in flames. We keep this as controlled as we can."

"Fine by me."

"And one more thing."

I nodded. "You're the boss."

"As soon as you light the fire, you run as far and fast as you can. Deal?"

"Why?"

"Because," he growled. "My father and anyone loyal to him will know they can use you against me. So you get away as soon as you can. Do we agree?"

Although I didn't like the idea of him going in alone to face the big bad wolf, I also didn't want him to be distracted thinking I might be compromised.

"We agree," I obliged.

A grimness passed across his face as he pulled me into his arms, cuddling my head to his chest. "Pray, Faye. It's time to use everything we've got."

"Rian?"

"Hmm?"

"Remember something for me, would you?"

"What's that?"

"I love you."

His lips pressed against my temple. "I love you, too, my brave girl."